Immune

There are over 100 described auto-immune diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's Disease, systemic lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.. Exposure to environmentally and occupationally encountered toxicants can be associated with the development of certain autoimmune diseases and with the induction of antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Several studies have related elevated ANAs to pesticide exposure.

SK

Antinuclear antibodies in farmers. Rosenberg AM, Semchuk KM, McDuffie HH, et al.University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada S7N OW8. Fourth international symposium "rural health and safety in a changing world".October 18-22 1998, click on Chemicals Exposure, Toxicology and Human Health - presentation O 22. Among farmers ANA positivity is associated with production of certain crops and certain animals and with exposure to specific pesticides. These data indicate that occupational and environmental exposures related to the agricultural industry are associated with the development of ANA, a serologic expression of autoimmunity,

Low dose malathion, DDT and dioxins suppress immune system. In all pesticide-injected groups, antibody response was dramatically suppressed, DTH reactions were enhanced, and respiratory burst was lower. The immune system of frogs exposed to pathogens prior to pesticide exposure can still respond normally.